Need some advice on a Custom marker

[Señor Leo]

So I paid a deposit for a custom marker(which will remain unnamed) that was coming out in limited numbers. I was pretty excited about this marker as it would fit nicely with my collection. I had planned to have the marker lightly custom milled before anno. I contacted a very reputable machinist from the paintball community and he replied saying the milling didn't sound difficult. The milling in question was just extending some slots, to make the marker a little different than the rest. The company putting out the marker had originally told me that they didn't offer custom milling but that they would check if we could have it sent out to a 3rd party for the milling, which was my original plan. After a few days of not hearing back from them I decided to check in and they informed me that it wasn't possible due to insurance reasons. They told me that the only way to have it custom milled was to have it milled after being anno'ed and completed by them. I found this pretty disappointing as I don't want to pay to have it anodized the first time for completion, then pay to have it anodized a second time after the milling.

I'm not really sure what my options are from here. What would you guys do in this situation?

[Trbo323]

I'd ask for some clarity, those bodies are not annoed at some point in production, why can't yours not be pulled off the line then?

I would explain your situation that it's going to get milled and you would rather not have the body go through 2 rounds of anno when it doesn't need to

I'm betting this has less to do with insurance (I mean what insurance company says you have to anno a piece of aluminum?) And more to do with them not wanting an "unfinished" marker to be out in the world

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[Shaftski]

They probably meant warranty reasons, not insurance reasons. Insurance reasons would only make sense if the added milling compromised structural integrity. They probably don't want to offer a warranty/guarantee on a marker that has non-standard milling. Changes could affect how the anno takes to the metal.

[BrickHaus]

Id say your best option is accept the marker raw. Have it milled, and annod yourself. And accept the no warranty. Or see if they wipl do it pemding a written agreement to waive the warranty.

That or just go without the customization.

You cant be mad at them for not wanting to anno it after its left their factory control. (Ie sent to your machinists) the coolant they use could potentially change how the part takes anno, or you wash it could also change how it takes anno.

So say they let you machine it, some contaminant gets into the body unbeknownst to all parties. You send it to them, they match anno it to the rest of your parts, annnnd it fades in 6 months. Now youd like want some warranty coverage.. Weather its a re anno again, or a replacement of a custom part, its not a good deal for a manufacturer. It just sounds like more risk for the manufacturer than its worth.

Why not just have the body milled after anmo. And tell everyone its "contrast cut".

[sniper97]

Also, this probably messes with their production schedule, I am sure they want all markers annoed at the same time. What if your marker is not back in time, I am sure extra will be charged to anno it later. Was this discussed when the order was made or.later?

[RuleOfSines]

Insurance reasons could possibly be because of safety. They may not want their name attached to something that was milled out of spec, regardless of how minor that milling may be. If any of the changes could lead to the marker failing for any reason, and they signed off on it as a design other than what their insurance company approved, it could be trouble.

Just guessing, based on how paranoid insurance companies have to be, and the risk to the business if insurance says "nope that's all on you"

Edit: Licensing maybe could be an issue too, depending on what this is. If, for example, it was a Dye Reflex, they may not be at liberty to allow the design to change while the marker is under their watch. Dye could show up and say 'what the heck is that, that is not the milling we said you could put our name on'

[Ecapnation]

Insurance reasons could possibly be because of safety. They may not want their name attached to something that was milled out of spec, regardless of how minor that milling may be. If any of the changes could lead to the marker failing for any reason, and they signed off on it as a design other than what their insurance company approved, it could be trouble.

Just guessing, based on how paranoid insurance companies have to be, and the risk to the business if insurance says "nope that's all on you"

Edit: Licensing maybe could be an issue too, depending on what this is. If, for example, it was a Dye Reflex, they may not be at liberty to allow the design to change while the marker is under their watch.

Bingo.....


Tippmann had a similar doctrine back in the day. Upgrade what ever we will still service it.....but cut anything off the body? Oops sorry can't help you.

[Señor Leo]

Insurance reasons could possibly be because of safety. They may not want their name attached to something that was milled out of spec, regardless of how minor that milling may be. If any of the changes could lead to the marker failing for any reason, and they signed off on it as a design other than what their insurance company approved, it could be trouble.

Just guessing, based on how paranoid insurance companies have to be, and the risk to the business if insurance says "nope that's all on you"

Edit: Licensing maybe could be an issue too, depending on what this is. If, for example, it was a Dye Reflex, they may not be at liberty to allow the design to change while the marker is under their watch. Dye could show up and say 'what the heck is that, that is not the milling we said you could put our name on'

^I think this may possibly be what is going on^. The marker in question is an Autococker. I know slotting an Autococker is very common and the machinist I chose is very reputable but I understand from their point of view if something did go wrong it would technically "be on them". My original expectation was that it would be a simple written agreement between me and them; if anything happened while at the 3rd party machinist it would be my problem to fix and not theirs. I asked them if there were any way we could work something out and their response was "unfortunately no" and that was pretty much the end of the conversation. The confusing thing to me is that I've already paid a non refundable deposit but am yet to pay the remaining balance. I would expect them as a company to try to help resolve the issue so the remaining balance could be paid.

So I'm stuck wondering, should I just pay for the cheapest anno option which is dust/matte even though my plan is to have the marker polished? My understanding is that polishing a marker that was matte does remove a thin layer. Or is it more beneficial to pay more for a polish finish, then just pay again to have it anno'ed after its been milled? Or are there any other ideas you guys can think of?

[Shaftski]

Unless they let you order it raw, you're probably spending more than you want to. Removal of anodizing removes a layer of metal, regardless if it is dust or polished.